TORONTO, Nov. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - The LCBO is offering nine nouveau wines for sale this year - including two from Ontario - starting on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. at more than 400 stores across the province.
The annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau and other nouveau wines on the third Thursday of November celebrates the first wines of the year's harvest. Nouveau wines are traditionally one of the LCBO's fastest-selling products with up to 80 per cent selling out in the first week.
Greg Dunlop, LCBO Category Manager for European wines, is enthusiastic about the quality of this year's release: "Following one of the coldest springs in more than 25 years, the harvest in Beaujolais was two to three weeks later than normal. The late start, however, was offset by hot weather in July and August. This meant the vines received some of the highest amounts of sunlight for more than 20 years, resulting in grapes that are ripe and ready to pick."
In addition to the two Ontario nouveau wines, five French and two Italian nouveau-style wines will be released. While 10,400 cases will be distributed across Ontario, each LCBO store receives a limited quantity so customers are advised to shop early for the best selection as interest in nouveau wines continues to be strong.
The nouveau wines being offered this year are:
Ontario
The Fool Reif Estate Gamay Nouveau VQA, 750 mL, $10.95
Chateau des Charmes Generation Seven Nouveau, 750 mL, $11.95
France
Mommessin Beaujolais Nouveau, 750 mL, $13.95
JP Chenet Beaujolais Nouveau, 750 mL, $12.95
Duboeuf Gamay Nouveau, 750 mL, $9.95
Italy
Negrar Novello Del Veneto, 750 mL, $9.95
Tollo Novello Rosso Terre di Chieti, 750 mL, $8.95
In the vintages fine wine and premium spirits sections at select LCBO stores:
France
Beaujolais Villages Nouveau (Joseph Drouhin), 750 mL, $15.95
Beaujolais Villages Nouveau (G. Duboeuf), 750 mL, $14.95
The nouveau wine tradition originated in France's Beaujolais region more than a century ago when local winemakers developed a quick maturing wine to celebrate the completion of the harvest. The result was a fresh, fruity wine they dubbed Beaujolais Nouveau or Beaujolais Primeur. Over the years, other wine regions have been producing their own nouveau wines. In the 1980s, Italy began exporting nouveau-style wines, called vino novello, while Ontario has produced gamay nouveau wines in some years.
Nouveau wines are best served slightly chilled, and they match well with lighter foods such as appetizers. To appreciate their fresh, fruity character at its best, the wines should be consumed young, although they will hold their flavour and freshness for holiday celebrations and match well with turkey.
For more information on the 2013 nouveau wines and participating stores, customers can call the helloLCBO Contact Centre at 1-800-ONT-LCBO (668-5226), or 416 365-5900 (Toronto area). You can also visit your nearest LCBO store or go online to www.hellolcbo.com. The TTY number for people who are deaf or hard of hearing is 416 864-6898 or 1-800-361-3291.
Customers are reminded to bring a reusable bag when shopping at the LCBO, and to take empty beverage alcohol containers (large and small glass bottles, PET plastic, Tetra Pak cartons, bag-in-box and cans) to The Beer Store for a full deposit refund.
SOURCE: LCBO
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Lisa Murray, LCBO Senior Communications Consultant
Tel. 416 864-6875; Cell: 647 339-5428; E-mail: [email protected]
Heather MacGregor, LCBO Media Relations Co-ordinator
Tel. 416 864-6772; Cell: 416 587-3729; E-mail: [email protected]
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